In c.1960, when the photograph was taken on which the postcard is based, both buildings were still owned by the Victorian Government and were a functioning police station and court house. In 1900, ownership of the post office had been transferred to the new Commonwealth Government. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, the police station and court house were offered for sale. They were subsequently purchased and renovated by the City of Boroondara. The Kew Historical Society raised over $5000,000 as a contribution to the restoration.Kew Police Station at left and Kew Court House at right. Monochrome (copied) postcard showing two buildings which are part of a larger complex (once including a post office) built by the Government of Victoria in 1888. The buildings are located at the junction of High Street and Cotham Roads in Kew. The frontages shown face High Street. "c.1960. Kew Police Station. High Street Frontage"kew court house -- high street -- kew (vic.), kew police station -- high street -- kew (vic.), public offices -- kew (vic), queen ann revival -- architectural style

A civic campaign for new public offices developed in Kew in the 1880s. After much deliberation, the location chosen was the junction of Bulleen and Cotham Roads. The buildings were designed by George Watson and John Henry Harvey, architects within the Department of Public Works (Victoria). Building was commenced in 1887, and after one year, the buildings were opened. The Post Office was transferred to the new Commonwealth Government in 1901. The Police Station and Court House, sold by the Victorian Government to the City of Boroondara in 2007, are now a community cultural centre and performing arts venue.The buildings were listed on the Victorian Heritage Register Register (HO885) in 1991. They are historically and architecturally significant to the State of Victoria because Watson and Harvey's designs exhibit diversity in integrating civil offices, they accommodate the apex of road junctions, and they demonstrate a departure from the contemporaneously favoured High Victorian Classical to the Queen Anne style in the design of civic buildings.View of south wall of the former Kew Court House, which when the photo was taken had been converted into a section of the Kew Police Station, and used as a briefing and locker room.kew court house, kew police station -- high street -- kew (vic.), public offices -- kew (vic)